Comic Cinema Crew

The Lone Wolf and Cub saga continues bigger and badder than ever with Baby Cart in Peril. Featuring tattoo ladies, singing minstrels, and human statues. No, this isn't Lone Wolf and Cub go to the circus they are on the hunt for a tattoed female assassin. Special guest Clayton Faits from the post-apocalyptic sci-fi radio epic Our Fair City joins to discuss how to judge the soul of a child at a glance.

Ogami Itto returns for the third installment in the Lone Wolf and Cub saga with Baby Cart to Hades. Itto is hired to kill an evil chamberlain with a personal army. Filmmonthly.com's Ruben Rosario sits in to discuss torture device logistics and the necessity of samurai temps.

Continuing the saga with the second installment of the Lone Wolf and Cub series. Baby Cart at the River Styx is full of everything you love: fun hats, lady ninjas, signature weapons and deadly vegetables. Special guests Jason and Scott Parker join the show to discuss the merits of having an ejector seat installed in your kimono.

Meanwhile... is taking a slight detour by covering it's first manga and foreign film with the long running series Lone Wolf and Cub. The film revolves around a wandering assassin with his young son in tow. The perfect movie for special guest Meghan Thompson and our own Cub, Amelia Thompson.

Greetings Boils and Ghouls!!! Welcome to Tales from the Crypt, the movie based on the classic EC series. This horror anthology film consists of five short films told by the Crypt Keeper to telling tourists about how they are going to die. Long time lover of the movie Nick Idell and first time watcher George Munoz join our intrepid host to traverse this film of terror.

Follow Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy on her sexy adventures to find the lost scientist Durand-Durand as she encounters creepy killer dolls, a blind angel, and an orgasm inducing machine. Special guests Mike Richko and Anastasia Tesfaye join to discuss sexuality, empowerment, and Jane Fonda's constant wardrobe changes.

Super criminal Diabolik steals your heart in this swinging heist film from 1968. Bubbawheat from "Flights, Tights, and Movie Nights" and "Filmwhys" joins the show to discuss this fun and sometimes silly movie. Strap on your full body leather suit, grab your high-tech gadgets, and enjoy this delightful romp.

Holy feature length films Batman! Meanwhile... is officially out of the business of watching serials and into the swinging 1960's in the first installment with Batman (1966). Special guests Steven Rosplock, Aaron White, and Jay Yachetta join our intrepid host to watch this campy, colorful, and canted romp.

Meet the Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom a small team of World War II-era ace pilots of varied nationalities who have been stripped of anything unique except for the intrepid leader. Follow the Blackhawk Squadron as they try to take down the Reds using mostly their fists and not so much any aircraft. Special guest Michael Sullivan stops by the show this week to discuss the serial that is nothing like the comic he remembers.

Welcome to the deepest heart of Africa, the most crowded jungle on Earth. Populated with US military, communist spies, stone people, cave men, and stock footage animals. The King of this Congo is Thun'da, so put on your jungle shoes and grab your chimpanzee friend for this "thrilling" jungle adventures. Special Guest Kara Karstedt joins our intrepid host for this daring expedition.

This episode features a lot of firsts: the first appearance of George Reeves as Superman, the first feature length film based on a comic book, and the first time the movie is under 3 1/2 hours. Superman fan and owner of Alleycat Comics Nick Idell joins Meanwhile... to discuss the plight of the Mole Man and the general lack of Superman.

Kirk Alyn returns as Superman to battle Lex Luthor who is using a teleportation device and a new identity as Atom Man in his criminal plans.This serial features the first actor to return as a comic book character and the first appearance of Lex Luthor. Complete with scientific gadgetry, animated special effects and the smuggest Superman you'll ever see. Mike Richko joins as the special guest to bring his white hot hate of Perry White.

Batman and Robin return in the first ever comic book movie sequel. This Columbia Pictures serial is the follow up to the 1943 Batman serial with a complete recasting and complete change in tone. The Wizard has taken Gotham hostage with his stolen Remote Control Device. Batman and Robin must solve the mystery of the Wizard's identity where almost everybody is a suspect. Joined this episode by Chicago Loot Drop's Mike Chuck Bretzlaff. Find out more at www.chicagolootdrop.org.

Alleycat Comics' Henry Barrett joins host James Thompson to discuss the 1948 serial Congo Bill: King of the Jungle. Congo Bill, jungle adventurer and animal trainer, must make his way into the deepest darkest part of Africa to find a missing heiress. Thrills, chills, and more men in monkey suits.

This looks like a job for SUPERMAN. The Man of Steel makes his inaugural appearance on the silver screen in this live action serial starring Kirk Alyn, Noell Neil, and Tommy Bond. Superman and the Daily Planet gang are on the trail of the Spider Lady, the Queen of the Underwold, as she tries to create a Reducer Ray to rule Metropolis. This selection is full of the most delightful tropes of both Superman stories and the 1940's serials. Joined this episode by special guest Ryan Bond. Up, up, and away!

The Vigilante: Fighting Hero of the West brings the history of comic book movies into the genre of westerns while still staying grounded in "modern day" of the 1940's. Enter The Vigilante a superhero with the powers of a cowboy and the voice of an angel. Greg Sanders a.k.a. "The Prairie Troubadour"  an actor by day and crime busting under the guise of The Vigilante a little bit later in the day. This DC comics hero has to solve the mystery of the "100 Tears of Blood" before everyone's horses get stolen. Special Guest Rhodrick Magsino joins our intrepid host in his quest to watch every comic book movie ever made.

Say hello to Hop Harrigan: America's Ace of the Airways as he talks to his friends, gets the runaround, and flies in a shockingly low number of chapters. George Munoz of Alleycat Comics joins host James Thompson to discuss this air adventure installment in comic book history. After his debut in All American Comics #1 Hop makes his only debut and possibly the only airplane filled movie in our journey.

Marvel’s First Avenger makes his debut in this 1944 Republic serial. Not only is this the first appearance of a comic book character later to be under the Marvel name but also to be loosely based. Special Guest Tom Whipps sits down to discuss everything Captain America whether it’s Captain Steven Rogers or District Attorney Grant Gardner.

The Dark Knight makes his first cinematic appearance in the 1943 Columbia Pictures serial "Batman." He's the first DC character on screen beating Superman to the punch. Joined this episode by the drummer of the band Passion Crimes Jay Yachetta.

The 1942 Republic serial "Spy Smasher" based on the character from Fawcett Comics is the second adaptation of a comic book for the silver screen. He looks like a pilot with a cape. His description sounds an awful lot like Captain America. But, he sure packs a wallop. Joined this episode by Cinema Cyanide's own Golden Groves.